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Living Fabulously Fierce Factor #60-Daring to Ask for and/or Accept Help

You’re not going to believe this, I know you’re not, but as smart as I am, there are some lessons in this life that I need to be taught over and over and over….and over again. Shocker, I know! Those who have been following long enough and those who know me really well are either smiling or rolling their eyes at the sarcasm here….and I’m ok with either J But here’s the truth of the matter, I continue to struggle with asking for and accepting help. Yes, I totally know why…thanks to the self-discovery process and a few complimenting self-assessments but it is something I still struggle with, though I’ve gotten muuuuuuuuch better.

Living fabulously fierce means that you are one who knows that you really can’t handle everything on your own or at a minimum, if you can’t see that, you’re strong enough, well wise enough to know that when others are offering their help, maybe they’re seeing something you’re not….that you need their help. Let them!

So here’s a bit of self reflection that I’ll be hold enough, vulnerable enough, to share:

Earlier this year, my fabulous friend, Alesha Barnes, you know the fitness competitor, started coaching me on my workout routine. We were on Arms Day and I was trying to complete a set of presses and she helped me get through the last few reps but I told her “You’ve gotta let me just do it because what am I going to do when you’re not here?” Her response, “Well, I’m here now so I’m helping you!” Essentially, shut up and let me help you!

Last weekend, I was traveling with my mom to Miami. It was a quick weekend trip so we didn’t have too much in the way of luggage but you know, enough for the both of us. At one point, we’re running through the airport….yup, totally cut the time super close to boarding because we were having so much fun….and I just took all the bags. My mom looks at me and says “Farah what are you doing? Give me one of the bags!” My response, “Mommy I do this all the time when I’m traveling for work.” Her response, “you’re not on a work trip, I’m here, give me the bag.”

This past weekend, prepping for our Living Fabulously Fierce Coaching Party at LFF Headquarters, my sister, Judith, jumped in on a number of pieces including running errands and picking up some items. I asked her a few time, “Wait, where did you get these from?…..How much did that cost? How many of these did you get? How did you do that?” Finally, Friday night, she looked at me and said “stop asking me questions”. It was kinda funny to see her at her wits end (hehehe) but she was essentially saying, “shut up, let me help.” Seriously though, you should’ve seen her face..if I was a pic, the caption would’ve read “for the love of God, shut up.” 🙂

And here I am. not even realizing that this is really a pattern for me and I need to focus on progressing from viewing asking for help as a challenge to choosing to leverage the ability to ask for help as the ability to demonstrate wisdom, discernment, and bravery…until now.

So what does it me to dare to ask/accept help?

First it means, finding peace in the truth that were never meant to be here operating and executing completely on our own. As human beings, we are designed to lean on one another and provide a safe space for leaning.

Second, it means redefining what it means to ask for help. Some of us have been taught to view the need for help as a weakness, a deficiency….more about looking at what you’re not able to do on your own than what you’re able to accomplish by leveraging others….a true strength. Take the time to redefine what it means to ask for an accept help. For me, it reminds me that I’m not alone. That’s huuuuuuuge. See some of us have this self-sufficiency mode of operating because for one reason or another we’ve just had to figure things out on our own so when help shows up, we can’t even accept it for what it is…confirmation that you’re still self-sufficient but you’re just no longer solo. Choose your definition.

Third, it means stepping back and letting others be a blessing, showing your what they can do, elevating their own strengths, skills, and areas of expertise. This basically boils down to getting over yourself and sharing the spotlight. Sharing the platform or giving others the opportunity to show you there’s. What a loss of an opportunity for you and for them if you’re just note smart, brave, daring enough to give them that opportunity by asking for or accepting their help. That’s totally not in alignment with living fabulously fierce.

So, think about it. My challenge to you this week is just to think about “help”. Really take the time to think about what that means to you? Do you have negative thoughts around asking for/accepting help? Why? Is it something deep or is it really just your pride (ouch! I know, I totally went there). Whatever it is, just call it out. Then, agree to go through the process above and start tackling the challenge of asking for and accepting help. You’ll be amazed at how much gain comes from it, both for you, and those positioned to help you!

Soundtrack of the week: No one’s done this better than Erica Campbell in her song Help. It’s a Gospel song so really focused on that special faith-based help. Never the less, you can hear the need in the words, the song, the message. Let go, be strong, be vulnerable, be positioned for the help you need…the help you deserve!